IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20098, 3 May 1935, Page 13

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

NEW ZEALAND REMITS By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, May 2. The New Zealand Rugby Union, at the annual meeting of delegates to-day, considered the remits to be sent forward to the Imperial Hugby Conference In London this year. It was decided that the following should be submitted on behalf of New Zealand:— “That an Empire Rugby Football Council be constituted with equal representation for each of the contributing Rugby Football Unions of the Empire, such representatives to be residents of the respective unions; that meetings of the said council be held at intervals of not less than four years; that such meetings be held alternatively in London and at the headquarters of each of the constituent unions. Such council shall have power to amend or add to the laws of the game and to arrange programmes of international tours and to function in such a manner for the well-being of Rugby. “That the New Zealand Union be given full power to enable it to allow any of its constituent local unions to modify any laws of the game for local competitions, provided that the laws regarding professionalism are strictly observed and that the suggested modifications are approved by the New Zealand Union.” “That It shall be permissible for a referee to put the ball into the scrummage.” “That the method of scoring be revised to provide that 3 points shall be scored for a try, 5 points for a goal from a try, 2 points for a goal from a free kick or a penalty kick, and 3 points for a dropped goal otherwise obtained.”

“That the amended rule regarding kicking into touch be brought into operation again.”

“That the advantage rule in the lineout from the kick-off should be introduced.” It is suggested that law 17a be deleted (playing the ball with the foot after a tackle) with consequential amendments to the same law. “When a scrummage is formed if any player advances beyond a line drawn through the centre of the scrummage and parallel with the goal line before the ball comes out of such scrummage, a penalty kick be awarded. The New Zealand Rugby Football Union have given their approval to three front row men in the scrummage, as asked by the Rugby Football Union, and having given it a fair trial in all matches played under its jurisdiction during the last three years, is of opinion that three men in the front row makes the interpretation of the law more difficult for players to give effect to and more difficult for referees to deal with, and suggest a trial of the two front row scrummage for the same period as New Zealand has played the three front row scrummage, the scrummage to consist of seven players and the extra man now played in the scrum be played as an extra back.”